1975: FRANK HAMPSON - creator of DAN DARE | Nationwide | Science Fiction | BBC Archive

Patrick Stenson reports on Frank Hampson, the artist who created Dan Dare and the Mekon for Eagle comics. When Eagle comics folded Frank spent years in relative obscurity, but has entered the public consciousness once more after being named "Prestigioso Maestro" at the International Exhibition of Comics in Lucca, Italy.
What happened to Frank during his wilderness years, and what does the future hold for him and Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future?
Originally broadcast 28 November, 1975.
You have now entered the BBC Archive, a time machine that will transport you back to the golden age of tv to educate, entertain and enlighten you with classic tv clips from the BBC vaults.
Make sure you subscribe so that you never miss a single stop on our amazing journey through the BBC Archive - kzbin.info?...

[@borderlands6606]

Few creators have been treated so miserably, while making so much money for their bosses, as comic book artists. Many lived close to penury, while the youth of a nation anticipated their output week by week, month by month. It was medieval serfdom with ink instead of a breast plough.

[@davedogge2280]

It happened to Steve Ditko the Spiderman creator and millions more exploited.

[@thomridgeway1438]

It's called The Babylonian Money System ... all artists that create are ensnared into a legal, financial spider web that is designed to trap, milk, exploit and then disinfranchise them at the earliest opportunity. The whole world is a grift. We don't reward imagination, we destroy it.

[@simmadpaul2880]

The irony is those models and artwork he had back then are probably worth way more than he got paid now.

[@OlafProt]

My mum adored the Eagle. I remember it getting a reboot in the early 80s - I wish I still had them!

[@petergivenbless900]

I remember Dan Dare and The Mekon appraring in '2000 AD' in the early '80s, I hope Hampson got better treatment for that.

[@davidwright8432]

I was 7 when 'Eagle' started in April 1950. I liked all of it, but Dan Dare was the true reason that kept me reading. And waiting. And reading ... Each day 'Eagle' came out was like Christmas or a birthday. At now just short of 80, I remember him as vividly and with as much admiration and affection, as then. Frank Hampson, like so many creatives, got screwed over very badly indeed. Yet without such people, life would be far duller. RIP, Frank. And thanks - and tears - from so many.

[@sandponics]

Frank Hampson got what he wanted, which was to be an artist working on the finest comic ever produced, and to be remembered. Life is not all about making money.

[@andypitchless]

The injustice of it is extremely painful to find out about for the first time, all these years later.

[@davedogge2280]

I remember reading the Dan Dare: Pilot of The Future strip in the odd Eagle comic I bought but the hardback books which compiled the stories were a real treat, beautiful artwork and compelling story. The comics if done well could translate well to a standalone movie or a big budget TV series but I think that investors get jumpy when it comes to investing in British Sci-Fi franchises; Jude Law's "Sky Captain And The World of Tomorrow" was probably the closest thing and that flopped also the Karl Urban Judge Dredd movie flopped as good as it was. There was a U.S. produced Dan Dare 3d computer generated TV show in 2001 (26 episodes I belive) but of what I've seen of it it looks awful and the animations are stiff like some kid off KZbin had used Blender and Unity to try and create a cinematic experience. Frank Hampson seems like a lovely and talented man but it just goes to show, you can create something and get completely ripped off in business and end up with nothing working for others, a similar thing happened to Steve Ditko the co-creator of Spiderman, he at one point after creating the character ended up living in some very 'reduced circumstances' whereas Stan Lee reaped the rewards. But having said that the vultures came for Stan Lee at the end of his life for sure and he was exploited despite a good life. Be sure you don't get exploited and conned out of the rightful fruits of your labours and make sure you are surrounded by honourable people, it's a really tough call in this day and age but here we have examples of two men who at some point in their lives got a rough deal.

[@jhon3560]

Dddddddddddd

[@davedogge2280]

@@jhon3560 ?

[@boomerhgt]

The artist got truly shafted a genius sadly with zero business acumen exploited .

[@sandponics]

He should have read a few business books.

[@rakondite]

The collection of Dan Dare artwork that Hampson retained was in the Atkinson Museum and Art Gallery in Southport. Whether it’s still on display is another matter. His studio used to be quiet close, so it’s quite apt that the collection should end up there.

[@pressureworks]

Nice to know it's in safe hands.

[@AchtungEnglander]

Even Rodney Trotter had a Dan Dare T-shirt

[@sandponics]

The Dan Dare comics that I read as a child inspired me to work in technology starting in the mid 1960s and has inspired me throughout my life. Like Patrick, I later taught technology and now operate a substantial website using artificial intelligence. From tiny acorns, great oak trees grow.

[@lordzontor]

Beautiful art at the end ❤

[@13infbatt]

I remember it from the eighties, but there was classic story lines , the art work was amazing on a par with any American comics of the time .

[@pressureworks]

Nicely done.

[@K.F-R]

The UK is almost as good at creating talent as it is exploiting, extorting and destroying it. Recognition here is generally posthumous. It was ever thus.

[@davedogge2280]

Some people do come through though such as Neil Gaiman and also Alan Moore (but he's not a happy bunny with what they did with his creations).

[@andyphilipson6983]

Agreed. This guy should be a household name to rival the likes of Stan Lee. The UK media has always sneered down its nose at anything they see as childish or a waste of time until extremely recently. Just look at the contempt doctor who was treated with until it was brought back.

[@meropealcyone]

I still haven’t found out what happened when Dan and his crew arrived at Terra Nova.

[@atomictraveller]

those frames were fantastic. truly gifted, bet it shows in his natal chart.

[@Justin-su7qj]

Stanley Jordan told me Frank was a broken man because of Dare & what happened to him is absolutely heart breaking🤬

[@MrMann0123]

And now we have the Eagle awards

[@martinwilliams9866]

He could of made a fortune by producing single signed posters of Dan Dare.

[@DaraM73]

Wow.

[@Edgel-in6bs]

Would be know that it would be made into one of the best commodore 64 games ever?

[@onlyme219]

Lets have a movie then please

[@flappospammo]

So sad the way this genius was treated , reminds me of Jack Kirby’

[@c1v1lwar24]

Yikes. Childhood heroes exploited until breaking point. How depressing.

[@BlackMaria61]

This is one I made earlier kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYSmdGZnpbmVgM0

[@markiliff]

#yellowcar

[@Porkcylinder]

I loved him in ‘the royal family’

[@5cloudwalker]

Reminds me of Disney writers taking over George Lucas Star Wars and ignoring his story and putting their own ideas in…writers always think they could do better than its creator … codswallop!!!!!!😡😡

[@Sakura_Shadows]

The SWEU had nothing to do with Lucas and it was fantastic! Sometimes fan fiction can be just as good.